(15/01/2000)
2000 opened as 1999 ended with Warwick Riga embroiled in a five set thriller. This time, however, a New Year gave a new result as the local side came back from two-nil down to wrest victory away from bottom of the table Crofton on Saturday. The result lifts Riga two places up the National League Division One table and condemns Crofton to the relegation maelstrom.
London traffic delayed Warwick's arrival until just before the match was due to start. Deprived of their warm-up, it was little surprise that home side Crofton took an early lead in the first set. As their visitors struggled to find any form, Crofton's lead was untouchable and despite a late Riga rally, led by captain Tom Young and John Gilling, the opening set went to the home side 25 - 21.
Set two had Warwick back in contention. A remarkable six point serving run from David Nason gave the visitors a handsome 8 - 3 lead but Crofton were not overawed. Their plight at the foot of the table and their first set triumph spurred them on. Crofton captain Dan Primus was inspirational as the home side maintained a steady pressure on a still suspect Riga defence. As Crofton drew level, alarm bells rang in the Warwick camp, but the reaction was too little and too late as Crofton executed a 25 - 22 close out.
The match would now be a test of character. Graham Duckett entered the fray for Riga and made an immediate impact. Two killing finishes seemed to lift the visitors who hardly looked back as they powered to a 25 - 16 demolition of Crofton. Nigel Malone too found a new lease of life and crowned a fine performance with the set winning attack.
The fourth set seemed to be heading the same way as Warwick went 14 - 9 ahead thanks to Young and Duckett. However lapses in concentration allowed Crofton to level the scores at 17 apiece. Again alarms bells rang but this time the answer was swift and decisive. Malone and the freshly introduced Richard Meade asked the questions that stumped Crofton as Riga raced home 25 - 20.
The deciding fifth soon became a Warwick canter as much as a Duckett-Malone benefit. An 8 -2 lead was quickly amassed and despite a Crofton rally, the set and match was beyond them as Riga closed them out 15 - 10.
"That was a great performance from us," confirmed a jubilant skipper Tom Young afterwards. "We showed our character, and that will take us up the league. I blamed Big Dick for our going two sets down! All I could see in those first two sets was his cheeky grinning face. If we lost there would have been one person to blame. I knew Crofton would be gunning for us, but even from two sets down I had no worries. I knew we'd beat them." The next test of Warwick's form will be against Wessex, currently lying in second place in the table, on Saturday at St. Nicholas Park Leisure Centre, Warwick (6pm). The visitors, who boast two England internationals in their ranks, have already beaten Riga once this season. The three-nil defeat in the opening game of the season was a lot closer than the score line suggests. However Wessex are formidable opponents and Warwick will have to be at the very top of their form to savour another victory. "Wessex are a very good team, up at the top on merit," notes Young. "I still don't think we've hit top form. If we do on Saturday, Wessex had better watch out."